Display device and method of inspecting the same

Abstract

A display device includes a display panel and an input sensor on the display panel, the input sensor including sensing electrodes, signal lines connected to the sensing electrodes, an insulating layer on the signal lines, and inspection lines on the insulating layer and electrically connected to each other, each of the inspection lines respectively overlapping a corresponding one of the signal lines.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display device comprising:
 a display panel; 
 an input sensor on the display panel, the input sensor comprising:
 sensing electrodes; 
 signal lines connected to the sensing electrodes; 
 an insulating layer on the signal lines; and 
 inspection lines on the insulating layer and electrically connected to each other, each of the inspection lines respectively overlapping a corresponding one of the signal lines and respectively insulated from the corresponding one of the signal lines; and 
 
 a dummy electrode under the insulating layer, wherein each of the inspection lines is connected to the dummy electrode through a contact hole through the insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       2. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the dummy electrode comprises a metal material, and wherein the inspection lines comprise a transparent conductive oxide. 
     
     
       3. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing electrodes comprise first sensing electrodes extending in a first direction, and second sensing electrodes extending in a second direction crossing the first direction,
 wherein the signal lines comprise first signal lines connected to the first sensing electrodes, and second signal lines connected to the second sensing electrodes, and 
 wherein a first one of the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes comprise a bridge pattern of which a portion is under the insulating layer, and a sensing pattern on the insulating layer and connected to the bridge pattern. 
 
     
     
       4. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein a second one of the first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes are on a same layer as the sensing pattern. 
     
     
       5. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the bridge pattern and the dummy electrode comprise a same material, and wherein the sensing pattern and the inspection lines comprise a same material. 
     
     
       6. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the display panel comprises an active area in which pixels are arranged, a peripheral area adjacent to the active area, and pad electrodes overlapping the peripheral area and on the insulating layer, and
 wherein each of the first signal lines comprises a line portion comprising a same material as the portion of the bridge pattern, and a pad portion extending from an end of the line portion and connected to a corresponding one of the pad electrodes through a contact hole in the insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       7. The display device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the inspection lines comprises an inspection line portion on the insulating layer, and an inspection pad portion extending from an end of the inspection line portion and aligned with the pad portion in the first direction. 
     
     
       8. The display device of  claim 3 , wherein the first sensing electrodes comprise n first sensing electrodes, “n” being a natural number equal to or greater than 2,
 wherein the inspection lines comprise first inspection lines corresponding to first-group signal lines connected to first to i-th first sensing electrodes among the n first sensing electrodes, “i” being a natural number smaller than “n,” and second inspection lines corresponding to second-group signal lines connected to (i+1)th to n-th first sensing electrodes among the n first sensing electrodes, 
 wherein the dummy electrode comprises first dummy electrodes and second dummy electrodes, 
 wherein the first inspection lines are connected to one of the first dummy electrodes, and 
 wherein the second inspection lines are connected to one of the second dummy electrodes. 
 
     
     
       9. The display device of  claim 8 , wherein the display panel comprises an active area in which pixels are arranged, and a peripheral area adjacent to the active area,
 wherein the first-group signal lines, the second-group signal lines, the first dummy electrodes, and the second dummy electrodes are in the peripheral area, 
 wherein the first-group signal lines and the first dummy electrodes are at one side of the active area in the first direction, and 
 wherein the second-group signal lines and the second dummy electrodes are at the other side of the active area in the first direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The display device of  claim 9 , wherein one of the second dummy electrodes to which the second inspection lines are connected is between the second-group signal lines and the active area in the first direction. 
     
     
       11. The display device of  claim 8 , wherein one of the first dummy electrodes to which the first inspection lines are connected comprises a plurality of unit areas having different widths,
 wherein one of the first-group signal lines comprises a plurality of unit areas having different widths, and 
 wherein a unit area having a largest width among the unit areas of the one of the first dummy electrodes to which the first inspection lines are connected is closest to a unit area having a smallest width among the unit areas of the one of the first-group signal lines. 
 
     
     
       12. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the inspection lines have an integral shape. 
     
     
       13. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein the display panel comprises:
 a first base substrate; 
 a second base substrate facing the first base substrate; 
 a circuit element layer between the first base substrate and the second base substrate on an inner surface of the first base substrate; and 
 a light emitting element layer on the circuit element layer. 
 
     
     
       14. The display device of  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the sensing electrodes and the insulating layer are in contact with an outer surface of the second base substrate. 
     
     
       15. The display device of  claim 1 , wherein one of the signal lines has a line width that is smaller than a line width of one of the inspection lines corresponding to the one of the signal lines. 
     
     
       16. A display device comprising:
 a display panel comprising an active area in which pixels are arranged, and a peripheral area adjacent to the active area; 
 an input sensor on the display panel, the input sensor comprising:
 sensing electrodes overlapping the active area; 
 signal lines overlapping the peripheral area and connected to the sensing electrodes; 
 an insulating layer covering the signal lines; and 
 inspection lines overlapping some of the signal lines, insulated from the some of the signal lines, on the insulating layer, and electrically connected to each other; and 
 
 a dummy electrode under the insulating layer, wherein each of the inspection lines is connected to the dummy electrode through a contact hole through the insulating layer. 
 
     
     
       17. The display device of  claim 16 , wherein the sensing electrodes comprise first sensing electrodes extending in a first direction, and second sensing electrodes extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and
 wherein each of the inspection lines comprises a curved portion, and an extension portion extending from the curved portion in the second direction. 
 
     
     
       18. The display device of  claim 16 , wherein one of the inspection lines comprises an overlap portion that overlaps the signal lines, and a non-overlap portion that does not overlap the signal lines. 
     
     
       19. A method of inspecting a display device comprising a display panel, an input sensor on the display panel, the input sensor comprising first sensing electrodes, second sensing electrodes crossing the first sensing electrodes, first signal lines connected to the first sensing electrodes, second signal lines connected to the second sensing electrodes, an insulating layer covering the first signal lines and the second signal lines, and inspection lines on the insulating layer, overlapping the first signal lines, insulated from the first signal lines and the second signal lines, and electrically connected to each other, and a dummy electrode under the insulating layer, wherein each of the inspection lines is connected to the dummy electrode through a contact hole through the insulating layer, the method comprising:
 applying a first inspection signal to the first signal lines or the second signal lines to inspect an operation of the input sensor; and 
 applying a second inspection signal to the inspection lines to inspect a defect of the inspection lines. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second inspection signal is applied to the inspection lines when the first inspection signal is applied to the first signal lines.